Day 8 of our Christmas countdown, and today, we’re talking microbrands! Those brands that provide a great value-for-money proposition, are fun, and don’t belong to the larger mainstream competitors.
Everybody loves a good microbrand. In many cases, they’re the great-looking fun watches you can wear without breaking the bank. And these days it seems that microbrands are getting even more and more popular with some of those becoming mainstream hits. The likes of Furlan Marri, Christopher Ward and Studio Underd0g are becoming synonymous with quality, value for money pieces. So, for this buying guide, we thought, why not have a look at 10 great microbrand watches that will stand out this silly season?
Mario’s Micro Monsters
Erebus Ascent
And where better to start than right here in Australia? If you’ve been a watch lover for a while, chances are you’ve stumbled across the YouTube channel of Jody Musgrove, better known as Just One More Watch. After becoming massively successful reviewing almost every kind of watch imaginable, he has launched a microbrand venture with Stephen ‘Mr P’ Parker to create watches of their own.
The Erebus Ascent is the second of two collections, the other being the Origin dive watch. However, it has quickly built a reputation of its own. Jody’s years of constructive feedback have positioned him perfectly to create a timepiece that appeals to the average consumer, and the Ascent may be some of their best work to date. Available with two movements, multiple bracelet options, and a plethora of dial finishes and sizes, the Ascent lineup is remarkably versatile and accessible.
Is it a perfect GADA (Go Anywhere, Do Anything) watch? By Jody’s own admission, not quite. There are still a few things he would love to improve over time. That said, the Ascent stands as a surprisingly capable all-rounder at a price point most watch lovers can afford, and one they should absolutely consider. I can’t wait to see where Jody and Mr P take the brand next.
Australian RRP: From A$599
Availability: Available now, online at ErebusWatches.com
Galvin Loimu Tuxedo
Keeping things Aussie with another Sydney-based company, we have Galvin Watch Company. Founded by Susan Galvin, a Finnish-born Australian watchmaker, the brand was born out of necessity after COVID made her redundant. Persevering through it all, Galvin’s brand has become a culmination of her Australian spirit, Finnish heritage, and the skills she honed while working with brands such as Omega and TAG Heuer.
The Loimu, Finnish for ‘flame’, is one of the brand’s premium collections. Combining capable mechanics with a distinct aesthetic, it has become known as one of the microbrand scene’s most accessible and well-regarded lines. More recently, Galvin has chosen to expand the Loimu range with a duo of new designs.
Known as the Loimu Tuxedo, the watches are available in either Frost White or Tundra Purple. Featuring a two-tone dial, an applied Galvin ‘G’ logo, and a no-date Miyota movement, the Loimu Tuxedos present themselves as handsome alternatives in the dress watch space. In that sense, they may be some of the most compelling stocking stuffers for the entry-level watch enthusiast in your life.
Australian RRP: A$919
Availability: Available now, at Galvin retailers, or online at GalvinWatchCompany.com
Serica Ref. 1174
Moving out of Australia and into Europe, we have Paris’s own Serica. Having met one half of the founding team in Jérôme Burgert, I can wholeheartedly attest to the brand’s commitment to the watch space. However, field watches are what they are best known for, which made it all the more surprising when they announced a new dress watch line late last year.
As is tradition with Serica timepieces, the first Ref. 1174 duo didn’t have an official name, instead being colloquially nicknamed the Parade collection. Housed in an ovalesque case reminiscent of large football stadiums, the Parade is yet another heritage-inspired, yet distinctly Serica, take on the dress watch.
Originally available with either a black or champagne gold dial, the line has recently expanded with the addition of two textured ‘Linen’ dials in blue and brown. While all four watches are absolute lookers, don’t let that fool you. These are still Serica watches, which means they are unassuming yet hard-wearing. While I wouldn’t recommend taking a leather strap for a swim any time soon, the watch itself will remain safe in most environments thanks to its 100m water resistance.
Australian RRP: A$2,699
Availability: Available now, at Serica boutiques, retailers, or online at Serica-Watches.com
anOrdain Model 1 Fumé
My last pick comes from the far north of the United Kingdom, specifically Glasgow, Scotland, with the ever-popular anOrdain. This microbrand has been gaining extraordinary traction over the past few years, featuring repeatedly across virtually every corner of watch media. If you’re familiar with their work, it’s easy to see why.
anOrdain’s speciality lies in the delicate craft of enamel dials. While enamelling itself isn’t uncommon in the wider watch world, it is exceptionally rare in the microbrand space, and few, if any, do it better. Enamelling is slow, painstakingly deliberate work, where even a minor mistake can mean starting again from scratch. Yet the Scottish brand has built its entire business model around mastering this demanding process.
Despite now offering a broad range of remarkable models, it’s still the Model 1 Fumé line that resonates most with me. Although the waitlist is now long enough to wrap around their headquarters twice over, it’s absolutely worth it. You’re rewarded with a choice of movement and size, a meticulously coloured enamel dial, and a contemporary design matched by very few others in the industry, whether microbrand or otherwise.
Australian RRP: A$5,664
Availability: Available through booking only. See anOrdain.com for more information.
Sam’s Super Selections
Minim MN01
Minim Watches is a micro-brand that I had the chance to see at the prototype stage before it was officially released, a unique experience that made it a truly special moment. I was able to see the full collection up close while chatting with the founder, Chloe, about the brand and its inspiration. Chloe spoke about her appreciation for traditional design and her genuine love of watchmaking, which really resonated with me. I’ve always had a soft spot for vintage case designs, so it was easy to connect with the direction she’s taking the brand.
When I saw it in person during Geneva Watch Days, I was genuinely blown away by just how good the dial and case design looked. The case draws inspiration from vintage pocket watch architecture, featuring welded lugs and a knurled bezel that give it a really cool, old-school aesthetic. And honestly, it doesn’t stop there.
What really surprised me the most was the dial. Available in three colours, olive green, ice blue, and orchid purple, it features three different guilloché patterns. There’s a wave-like pattern in the centre of the dial, a lined pattern on the 6 o’clock subdial, and finally, the outer section features another wave pattern that runs in the opposite direction to the centre.
With a 36mm case, a D1 Elaboré grade Swiss movement, and a dial that leans into traditional craftsmanship, this first collection from Minim Watches is a strong and confident debut. If I had to pick just one, it would be the ice blue, in person, I honestly had a hard time putting it down (which I’m sure Chloe can attest to!).
International RRP: 1,199 GBP
Availability: Pre-order now for end of February 2026 delivery! For more information, please head to Minim-watches.com
Christopher Ward C12 Loco
When Christopher Ward unveiled it, it was one of those micro-brand releases that quickly became a favourite among watch enthusiasts. On paper, it ticks all the right boxes for a modern daily wearer, with a well-proportioned tonneau-shaped case, a mix of brushed and polished finishing that adds a real touch of luxury, and the option of either a rubber strap or an integrated steel bracelet.
What really made this watch steal the headlines, though, was its industrial-style dial design. First up, you’ve got an off-centre dial positioned at 12 o’clock, which, thanks to the range of colour options available, still makes telling the time easy at a glance. The real standout feature, however, is the balance wheel and escapement displayed in full view. These are held in place by a bridge that extends out toward the edge of the dial, a deliberately laid-out design that gives the watch its unique visual identity and drew plenty of attention from enthusiasts when it was unveiled.
Christopher Ward has long made a name for itself by offering solid value and real horological substance, and the C12 Loco continues that trend in a way that feels both refined and ready for everyday life. With a variety of dial and strap options available, the C12 Loco brings the heart of watchmaking to the forefront, making it a genuinely thoughtful statement piece.
Australian RRP: AU $7,315 (Bracelet), AU $6,950 (Rubber Strap)
Availability: Available now through Christopher Ward boutiques and authorised retailers, or online at Christopherward.com
Studio Underd0g 01SERIES Mint Ch0c Chip (Gen03)
Studio Underd0g is known for creating watches that instantly stand out from the crowd and grab your attention. The brand gained enormous popularity with its watermelon-inspired dial, something the watch industry certainly hadn’t seen before. Riding on that success, it made perfect sense to keep the momentum going, with follow-up releases including an avocado-inspired dial and even a passion fruit–themed collaboration with H. Moser & Cie.
Now, the latest venture steps away from fruit altogether, drawing inspiration from the classic mint-chocolate ice cream combo. The Gen 3 chronograph features a 38.5mm stainless steel case paired with a beautifully textured mint-green dial, complete with indices shaped like chocolate chips. The result is a watch that feels playful and fun, staying true to Studio Underd0g’s light-hearted design philosophy.
The mix of colour and detail feels fresh without ever drifting into gimmicky territory, which is pretty impressive for a watch that starts conversations before you even say a word. The Gen 3 updates bring a slimmer case design for improved everyday wearability, a double-domed sapphire crystal, and a hand-wound column-wheel chronograph movement based on the Seagull ST-1901B.
We also had the chance to do an in-depth review of this timepiece, where you can read more about the wearability and that cool mint choc chip design (click here!). This Mint Choc Chip edition perfectly embodies what Studio Underd0g is all about: watches that don’t take themselves too seriously, but are seriously fun to wear.
Australian RRP: AU $1,125
Availability: Available through Studio UnderD0g boutiques and authorised dealers, or head online to underd0g.com for more information.
Matt’s Gift Guide
Hz Watches HZ.03 Blue Marble
Over the past couple of years, Hz watches has seemed to have gone from strength to strength. The brainchild of Matt Zillman from Melbourne, Australia, is now in its third generation – the HZ.03. I reviewed one of the very first models that was launched, the HZ.01 in Green, a couple of years back just prior to the launch, and I was pretty impressed by its design elements and value proposition – back then, being under $300.
Now with the HZ.03 series, you’ve actually got a great-looking watch, with a Seiko VD78 quartz movement inside, but with some more refined design elements for those that want something that looks a lot more expensive than actually is. My pick would have to be the Blue Marble with an aventurine dial, in a 36mm grade 5 titanium case that looks like it should be up there with brands that are 10 times the price, and it was inspired by the first full portrait of Earth captured in 1972 –The Blue Marble
At A$399, this is a value-packed watch that punches above its weight, given the design, the looks and quality at this price point. If the aventurine is a little too sparkly for you, then the black, white or blue enamel dials are on the more contemporary side, and sit slightly lower in price at A$349.
Australian RRP: A$399 (Aventurine) / A$349 (White, Blue or Black)
Availability: Available now, with limited stock for each model. Head to HZWatches.com to purchase.
Furlan Marri Blue Sector
Furlan Marri is a brand that falls into the microbrand category, but the brand is fast becoming more like a mainstream independent since its launch in 2021, and that year, taking out the “Horological Revelation” prize at the GPHG. Since then, Furlan Marri has iterated over the last four years, taking inspiration from classic designs and making great-looking watches – just like the new Blue Sector, a beautiful sector dial watch with Cornes de Vache (Cow Horns) lugs.
With the Breguet-style indices, the Cornes de Vache case and lugs, and now, inside beats a La Joux Perret Swiss automatic movement with a 68-hour power reserve. But the star for me is the textured blue sector dial. This is offset nicely with two standard leather straps – a blue and a sand with quick-change spring bars so you can swap them out easily and change the look up.
While the price tag on the new Blue Sector Cornes de Vache is a little more than the original models from a few years ago that housed a quartz movement, these still only retail for CHF 1,250, or approximately A$2,380 at the current exchange rate. A good looking classic styled watch with a Swiss movement for under A$3,000 is a good deal in my opinion.
International RRP: CHF 1,250
Availability: For more information, availability, and to order, head to FurlanMarri.com
Farer Mortiz Green Titanium Chronograph
Farer has been around now for some time, well, since 2015 to be more exact, which is not long in terms of watch brands. But this year is the British brand’s 10th Birthday, which is a milestone, and it has come leaps and bounds over that period. So, when it comes to microbrands, I could not leave this in the list. And what better choice than the Moritz Green Titanium Chronograph?
When you look at the Farer Moritz you can see some classic design cues from chronographs past, like the big eye minute subdial at 3 o’clock, vintage pump pushers and even the British Racing Green colour that is a nod to all those British race cars that have been setting lap times since 1903.
All this is housed within the lightweight 41mm case made from grade 2 titanium, and inside is a Selitta SW510M b – an Elaboré grade hand-wound calibre. For those who are not familiar, the Elaboré is the higher-end movement, but not quite a Chronometre grade movement. With only 100 units of this, you’d better get in fast!